To those who think NBC promoting a "cold war" on ice represents a real threat to world peace my suggestion is to go for a long walk, take many deep breaths and then have a big laugh. Figure skating will not lead to WW3

The point I'm trying to make is the hypocrisy of it all! We're fabled into wanting to think and believe that the Olympic Games is about the world coming together to promote good will and competitive, good natured sportsmanship and then I have to watch certain buffoons promote cold war trash on my tv screen. Which is it? Are the Games about all of us coming together or dividing us all? . . . we're receiving mixed signals here and I don't like it. If you're going to point out every other nation's/continent's show of bad sportsmanship, then you better equally show the bad sportsmanship of your own athletes too. I'm sick of this one-sided bullsh!t because that's certainly not how it really is!

Again, I ask how do you know this? How are you quantifying what Evan's challenges are compared to other skaters? What is your basis for this "fact" that Evan works harder than other skaters?

Evan may be the new King and Olympic champion but I haven't read many posts claiming he is the world's greatest skater. So what is left - the "hardest working" line seems to fit and did you ever consider for a minute that is the best way to explain his WC, GPF Title and now OGM?

Well, I'm an American. So I just want to make it clear to you that not all Americans feel that way.

I am not saying it's all Americans.

I claim the system as a whole is bs. 'Everybody' is all about sportsmanship except when it's 'their' athletes and then they are entitled to certain things. Now I don't really have a problem with this honestly. People are not perfect beings, we are far from the evolved philanthropists and idealists we like to portray ourselves as, and it is how it is.

What irks me is this - if you want to play the Game, then accept that the others will get their own back. Simple. Nobody is this perfect ideal human being here. Trying to hold the moral high ground is just hypocritical. So either we make it fair for everyone - won't happen - or you swallow the bs when your turn comes. Simple. I get annoyed at people like UM84 precisely for the holier than thou attitudes.

I claim the system as a whole is bs. 'Everybody' is all about sportsmanship except when it's 'their' athletes and then they are entitled to certain things. Now I don't really have a problem with this honestly. People are not perfect beings, we are far from the evolved philanthropists and idealists we like to portray ourselves as, and it is how it is.

What irks me is this - if you want to play the Game, then accept that the others will get their own back. Simple. Nobody is this perfect ideal human being here. Trying to hold the moral high ground is just hypocritical. So either we make it fair for everyone - won't happen - or you swallow the bs when your turn comes. Simple. I get annoyed at people like UM84 precisely for the holier than thou attitudes.

Will everyone is acting as if Plushenko is perfect, and it is "impossible" for him to lose. As I said above, I could give a rats *** about Evan, I just wish people would respect him as the champion.

All's I know is that after watching both Scott Hamilton & Dick Button on NBC last night, I will no longer support SOI, which means I will no longer attend any of their shows. Hopefully that will change one day in the future. But, for now, no.

I've had enough of Scott, and though I'm sorry to see that he looks very very ill (is he alright? seriously, does anybody know if he is ill?), I just can't do it. Anything associated with him makes me uneasy at this point in time.

Neither of these two can honestly hold a candle to Evgeni. And not just in medals (Evgeni is second only to Gillis Grafstrom when it comes to all-time medals won at the Olympics, nobody else comes close). And compared to Scott, Evgeni won ALL his Olympic medals with brilliant free skates, unlike Scott whom is literally the Trixie Schuba of mens figure skating. His free skate was a disaster, popped & singled jumps, not even a 3A, which the other medalist did. Everybody knows Scott Hamilton won his Olympic Gold Medal due to his figures; he was so far ahead of the field in figures that it didn't matter he imploded in the free skate.

I only bring this up because of their mutual bashing of Evgeni Plushenko. Jealous is all, pure jealousy. At least Evan didn't engage in this bashfest. For this he has my respect.

Will everyone is acting as if Plushenko is perfect, and it is "impossible" for him to lose. As I said above, I could give a rats *** about Evan, I just wish people would respect him as the champion.

Why should we? Is there something that says automatically - champions deserve respect regardless how they came by the title? I think not.

And Plushenko is far from perfect. You can go back to one of those monster threads on men's LP and find my comment - he lost it all by himself in a way by not doing more in the technical part, ie the second quad. He had to know that the Game was not being played in his favour and he didn't do it. Don't know why obviously, but I think he's too old and simply can't do two quads any more with enough certainty of success. That though does not negate all other issues.

All's I know is that after watching both Scott Hamilton & Dick Button on NBC last night, I will no longer support SOI, which means I will no longer attend any of their shows. Hopefully that will change one day in the future. But, for now, no.

I've had enough of Scott, and though I'm sorry to see that he looks very very ill (is he alright? seriously, does anybody know if he is ill?), I just can't do it. Anything associated with him makes me uneasy at this point in time.

Neither of these two can honestly hold a candle to Evgeni. And not just in medals (Evgeni is second only to Gillis Grafstrom when it comes to all-time medals won at the Olympics, nobody else comes close). And compared to Scott, Evgeni won ALL his Olympic medals with brilliant free skates, unlike Scott whom is literally the Trixie Schuba of mens figure skating. His free skate was a disaster, popped & singled jumps, not even a 3A, which the other medalist did. Everybody knows Scott Hamilton won his Olympic Gold Medal due to his figures; he was so far ahead of the field in figures that it didn't matter he imploded in the free skate.

I only bring this up because of their mutual bashing of Evgeni Plushenko. Jealous is all, pure jealousy. At least Evan didn't engage in this bashfest. For this he has my respect.

Well then are you going to stop supporting all of the skaters who are bashing Evan?

I think the Russians are having a particularly hard time dealing with the fact that their style of skating and choreography has gone out of fashion. Russian choreo was the rage in the 90's and up until the CoP era. There can be little doubt the new style and center of the skating world has shifted to Canada.

Just watch what Lori did for Evan and what "Rasputin" ( sorry I don't know his real name) did for Plushy. One has a State of The Art program and the other is mired in the 90's.

I believe we will see Yuna's choreo done by Wilson outshine Mao's program from Tat.

And you better believe that if Joannie nails her programs she will outscore the Morozov choreo that Miki will be skating to.

Of course the skaters still have to perform and Yuna and Joannie will not win medals unless they perform at the top of their respective games. But their programs are the most CoP friendly.

I feel as great as Mao can be her program is not as CoP friendly as Yuna's program.
This is part of what we saw with Plushy. He had very limited choreo and his program was based on him outjumping everybody - or as Plushy himself said, "they will all be shaking in their boots."

I guess someone forgot to tell Evan, Dai and a few others they were supposed to be too scared to skate their best.

Sorry, but CoP demands a better strategy than simply thinking your competitiors will freeze up and hand you the OGM.

I think this is completely subjective. For example I liked the tango, I don't think its outdated, I think its strong, passionate, and form me Evan's choreography was completely forgettable.
So don't be so assured that your own opinion expresses everyone. I guess you have no relation to dancing, or any type of tango.

Tango has always been the most dramatic, and sensual dance of all time...

Evan may be the new King and Olympic champion but I haven't read many posts claiming he is the world's greatest skater. So what is left - the "hardest working" line seems to fit and did you ever consider for a minute that is the best way to explain his WC, GPF Title and now OGM?

I attribute Evan's wins to mental toughness for one thing. I think his strategy in gaming the system is THE most important attribute to his winning the World Championships, Grand Prix Title and Olympic Gold medal. He performed just enough on his jumps, spins and footwork to gain points while his competitors did not. If Scotty Hamilton wanted to compliment Evan he could have used the analogy that Evan is like a chess player and he strategized his program to maximize on points. That would have been a more apt comparison to make in this situation then to say that Evan works harder than others.

I will ask it one more time. How can you quantify that Evan worked harder than his other competitors? Where have you gotten this information other than from the lips of Scotty, Sandra and other NBC commentators? Have coaches said that? Judges? People in the skating community other than NBC commentators? I would like to know....

I hope that's true! It would make my day if Plushenko came out next week and said, "ha ha suckers -- what? you never heard of "reality" TV?"

Part of the deal is Plush can't talk about it for one year. NBC spread the payments out to make sure Plushy will stay evil until they can try and make back some of the money they lost on the Olympics.
First up will be a TV special with Evan, wearing a white cowboy hat baling hay to show how as an American he works harder than anyone else.

Next they will show Evan eating his mom's apple pie with "America The Beautiful" playing in the background.

Then it will jump back to Skate America and show how the great Evan won and another Russian villain, Lutai got drunk, stole a car and tried to molest innocent young American girls.

I am not allowed to reveal anymore of the plot but NBC expects to "hit it out of the park" with Evan's first TV special and rumors are the commercials are selling at close to Super Bowl rates.

I attribute Evan's success to training and smart training at that...training to his strengths in relation to CoP requirements. All I have to support that is that I heard that he puts in full days of training and does complete run throughs. (Even Johnny said that about him). He has said that for him and his coach it was about trying to reach a personal best in each event and sometimes it worked during the season and sometimes it didn't and that he was lucky to have put it all together here at the Olympics. He also said that he felt going first in his group in the LP actually helped him because he didn't have the other's performances in his head.